Greenstein stumps for first responder bill in Hamilton

HAMILTON — State Sen. Linda Greenstein stumped for a bill that would change workers’ compensation for first responders during a stop at the Rusling Hose Firehouse Tuesday.

Greenstein, a sponsor, said the bill would shift the burden of proof of worker’s compensation for certain illnesses, such as cancer, from the employee to the employer for first responders. She said if the bill passes, a firefighter who was diagnosed with certain cancers would have a presumption that it was related to their job and the employer could dispute.

“It will make your life easier in terms of getting funding for your care,” she said to the dozen-or-so firefighters and their dog, Otis. “In my mind, this is just a common sense bill.”

Eddie Donnelly, the chairman of the legislative committee for the New Jersey Firefighter’s Mutual Benevolent Association, said at the event the bill would be good for his organization’s members.

“It’s an absolute win for firefighters and first responders in New Jersey,” Donnelly said.

Greenstein said opponents of the bill had criticized the change for its unknown cost to taxpayers. She said the opponents of the bill had not offered up enough proof to back their claims, and other states with similar changes had not seen big jumps in the cost of worker’s compensation.

“They can’t show us the numbers, they aren’t there,” she said.

The bill, which has passed the state Senate, will now go over to the Assembly. She said that she has not heard from Gov. Chris Christie or his administration about his feelings on the bill.

She said the inspiration for the changes in the bill came from difficulties first responders on 9/11 had in getting coverage for chronic conditions they developed after being exposed to toxic chemicals at or around Ground Zero.